Creative Arts and Sports Why they’re important right now

Upheaval and stress have caused tremendous concern about the emotional health of our kids. The way they spend their extracurricular time is more important than ever. Involving kids in the arts and sports offers a much-needed release, social connection, and critical developmental tools. Read on to hear from experts about how the arts and sports help shape kids’ brains and what you can do to help them use extracurricular time in the healthy ways.

Art Has a Calming Effect

“Art immerses you in the moment,” says Alyssa Navapanich, California Outstanding Elementary Art Educator of the Year and Lemon Grove AMP (Art, Music, PE) teacher. Many of her students report that her class helps them feel relaxed during distance learning. Navapanich teaches her students that there are no mistakes in art. She encourages focus on process over product, which takes the pressure off creating perfection.

“I like to build a sense of resiliency into my students,” says Navapanich. “When they feel like they make a ‘mistake’, I encourage them to refocus, see their creation differently and recreate their idea. The picture book Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg is a great tool for teaching this concept.”

Children’s Physicians Medical Group (CPMG) Pediatrician Dr. Rachel Gianfortune agrees, “Being able to express yourself through any type of art helps kids process emotions and exercises the brain’s muscles in new ways.”

Art Connects People

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the emotional well-being of members of the same family is closely related—and parental calm is essential to children in times of crisis. Creating art together is a great way to connect with children.

Sometimes the family members of Navapanich’s students join in during her virtual art lessons. “My favorite moments of teaching virtually are when family members participate in the process,” she says. “It creates a very real and tangible connection to a child’s education in a low stress way. They connect to each other and to art. Honestly, that’s the best reward an art teacher could have.”

Physical Activity Improves Mental Health

Many studies have proven that daily physical activity improves mental health by increasing serotonin, one of the brain’s happy chemicals.

“Giving kids a break from academics and time away from social media improves mood and helps manage stress,” says Dr. Gianfortune. Physical activity also helps kids gain more confidence and work through emotions, as it stimulates the brain in different ways.

While sports programs may be limited right now, there are various programs available that get kids moving in a safe environment, such as dance (try Scripps Performing Arts), gymnastics (check out Poway Gymnastics) and golf lessons (Pro Kids Golf Academy).

If you missed last month’s article “Movement Breaks for Mental Health”, read it in the January digital issue for great ideas about activities to do at home: www.sandiegofamily.com/ magazines/san-diego-familydigital-issues.

Music Develops Young Minds

Don’t underestimate the benefits of music as an art form—another noteworthy extracurricular activity for kids.

“Music is a powerful learning tool that stimulates brain patterns and memories,” says CPMG Pediatrician Dr. Gina Rosenfeld. If kids are too little for instrumental lessons, Rosenfeld encourages singing to young children to help wire the brain.

See what more local experts say about the benefits of music in “Why Music Education Matters”: www.sandiegofamily.com/resources/ afterschool-activities/why-musiceducation-matters.

Arts and Sports Enhance Academic Success

Creating art and engaging in artistic projects exercises many areas of the brain, including critical thinking, problem-solving and spatial relationships.

“Children who are involved in and exposed to the arts tend to be more creative, expressive, and are often more sure of themselves,” says Dr. Gianfortune. “Those characteristics lend themselves to improved academics and better mental health.”

Kids who participate in sports teams develop grit, which can translate into working harder at academics and improved leadership skills, according to Dr. Gianfortune.

Safe Options to Stay Active • Kicking a soccer ball • Hiking and walking • Gymnastics • Dance lessons • Riding bikes and scooters • Golf • Tennis • Throwing a baseball or softball • Batting practice • Scavenger hunts www.sandiegofamily.com/thingsto-do/out-about

Ideas for Creating Art

• Hot Spot Pottery offers outdoor classes with plenty of seating, as well as online lessons and private art “parties” (with people in your “pod”). www.thehotspotstudio.com

• Paint along with Bob Ross, a popular art instructor on YouTube.

Write and illustrate a comic book with a friend. Consider getting instruction from Little Fish Comic Book Studio: www.lilfish.us.

Write a story and read aloud in a video to share with friends.

Engage in Musical Arts

• Take virtual or private lessons — voice, choir, instruments.

Create rhythms with items at home. Get step-by-step instructions on how to make a Melon Maraca, Citrus Drum and Rainbow Rainstick in our video “How to Make DIY instruments for Kids”: www.sandiegofamily.com/ for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids/diyinstruments-for-kids.

Listen to podcasts such as Classics for Kids.

Cherie Gough is an award-winning local writer and mom of two.

February 2021 • SanDiegofamily.com • 21